Having trouble remembering to take your medication? Our medication management service can help!

Whether you tend to forget to take your medication/s or you’re concerned about a loved one who has trouble managing their prescriptions, our medication management service will make your life easier.

As we age, the number of medications we take to manage chronic health conditions tends to increase. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians aged 75 and over are prescribed an average of eight medications at once.

Forgetting to take pills or other medications can happen to the best of us, and it can become even more challenging as we age and our memory starts to deteriorate. For patients with dementia or other cognitive impairments, self-managing medications can be difficult and result in errors that have the potential to cause harm and even death.

That’s why Feros Care’s medication management service is one of the more popular services taken up by our Home Care Package (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) clients.

But how does it work and is it right for you? Feros Care Clinical Wellbeing Manager Margaret Parker answers all your burning questions.

How the medication management service works

“First off, a need for the service will be identified,” says Margaret. “It might be that the family reports the client is missing medications or the support care workers become aware they aren’t taking their medications properly.

“As a Registered Nurse and Clinical Wellbeing Manager, I receive a request to go out and do a medication care assessment. This covers everything from the diseases and health conditions they have to the medications they’re taking and how they’re coping.

“Based on that assessment, I may make a recommendation that, with the client’s consent, we assist with their medication. For us to do that, their medications must be put into a dose administration aid such as a Webster-pak or a sachet system packed by the pharmacy.

“This is then we work out the level of support needed. In some cases, we just go in and check that they’ve had their medications. Other times, we prompt them to take their medications. Or, if they’re unable to manage their medications anymore due to a cognitive issue or physical condition like arthritis (meaning they can’t open the Webster-pak), we provide full assistance.”

Every Feros Care support worker undergoes a competency assessment annually to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to manage and administer medications safely.

“They must complete a learning package and then do a practical assessment to make sure they follow the correct instructions, sign the documentation as they should, and know when to raise or report an incident. We go to great lengths to make sure they understand medication safety and how to safely assist our clients.”

What are the benefits of medication management?

The medication management service helps keep Feros Care clients stay safe and healthy and gives their families peace of mind knowing their medication dosages are being closely monitored.

“When clients forget to take their medications, it can put their health at risk,” Margaret explains. “And on the other end of the spectrum, there can be a risk of double dosing. They may forget that they took their medication that morning and have a second lot when they’re not supposed to. Depending on the type of medication, this could potentially lead to overdose.

“There’s also the risk of clients taking too much of an addictive medication such as opioids. So, having their medication packed by day and time, and having us check that they’re being taken properly, can reduce the risk of adverse effects.”

Medication management visits also allow Feros Care support workers to perform safety checks, improve clients’ health outcomes, and provide them with companionship.

“We can make sure they’re up and about and doing okay,” says Margaret. “Sometimes, if the client also receives our meal preparation service (Home Care Package clients only), our support workers will make a meal for them while they’re there to manage their medications. That can be really helpful for clients who are diabetic, for example, because making sure they’re having their medications and meals on time really helps stabilise their blood sugar.

“And if a support worker notices that a client has a lot of medications, they can ask for a medication review. We can then work with the client’s GP to see if some medications can be removed or changed.

“But one of the biggest benefits for many of our clients is that they get to see someone every day and develop relationships with the support workers. Otherwise, they might not see anyone for days or even weeks and that can get very lonely.”

How do Feros Care clients respond to the service?

The overwhelming majority of Feros Care clients are grateful for the help in managing their daily meds.

“Many of them have very complex medication regimes with a huge number of tablets and their doctors are constantly changing them, so they struggle to keep track of the changes,” says Margaret.

Occasionally, a client declines to accept support in managing their medications.

“We currently have a client who, because of his dementia, doesn’t believe he needs assistance,” Margaret notes. “We’ve had to put his medications in a lock box to keep him safe because it was causing a lot of confusion, and he was taking them on the wrong days and at the wrong times. But these circumstances are rare, and we always work closely with the family for the best outcomes.”

Want more information on medication management?

If you’d like to read more, check out our handy Medical Management – Clinical Information Sheet.

Alternatively, phone us on 1300 418 418, click here to request a callback, or existing clients can contact us via the MyFeros portal.